A federal court officer stands beside Sophia Ridgely Fuller, 71, of Belfast; Sharon Dean, 71, of East Machias; and Jessica Stewart, 38, of Bass Harbor on Friday, May 11. The women were found guilty of failing to comply with a law enforcement officer's order to leave the Margaret Chase Federal Building last year when they staged a sit-in inside Republican Sen. Susan Collins office. The group gathered to protest Collins' support of a sweeping GOP tax bill overhaul, which passed with Collins' backing. (Callie Ferguson | BDN)

A federal court officer stands beside Sophia Ridgely Fuller, 71, of Belfast; Sharon Dean, 71, of East Machias; and Jessica Stewart, 38, of Bass Harbor on Friday, May 11. The women were found guilty of failing to comply with a law enforcement officer's order to leave the Margaret Chase Federal Building last year when they staged a sit-in inside Republican Sen. Susan Collins office. The group gathered to protest Collins' support of a sweeping GOP tax bill overhaul, which passed with Collins' backing. (Callie Ferguson | BDN)

Protesters who staged a sit-in at Susan Collins’ office to serve 24 hours in jail

A federal judge ruled on Friday that the women remained inside the office illegally when they refused an order to leave the Margaret Chase Smith Federal Building at 202 Harlow St. They had gathered there on Dec. 18, 2017, to protest Collins’ support of a sweeping GOP tax overhaul bill.

The women will spend their day in jail this weekend. The short sentence reflected the recommendation of their lawyer, Logan Perkins, and what U.S. Magistrate Judge John Nivison felt was appropriate, given the peaceful nature of their protest.

“They’ve been very clear that this was an act of conscience for them,” Perkins told Nivison.

Each woman faced a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.

The Fiddlehead Focus/St. John Valley Times is pleased to feature content from our sister company, Bangor Daily News. To read the rest of “Protesters who staged a sit-in at Susan Collins’ office to serve 24 hours in jail,” an article by contributing Bangor Daily News staff writer Callie Ferguson, please follow this link to the BDN online.

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